GMAT 730, AWA - 4.5(39%) - Grounds for Retake?

[gmat_gupta86]

Hi aspirants,

I got a 730 on the GMAT, 8 on IR but just 4.5(39%) on the AWA.
How important is AWA to schools, especially Asian Business Schools?

Please help!!

[ivyctor2010]

It does carry some weightage but your main GMAT score is good so no worries now, concentrate on essays and make them awesome.

[mohankiran.p]

I agree with the post above. Unless your split between verbal and quant is really lopsided (something like 60 vs 95 percentile), there is no reason why you should consider a retake.

Moreover, I know someone with a 4.5 AWA who got into a top MBA program in the US - I'm talking about THE top 10 - and I also know someone who has skipped AWA completely but secured an admit at INSEAD (both of them scored 720+). Having been through the process twice, I personally don't think you should invest time again on GMAT. Use it instead to improve other parts of your application - essays, extracurriculars, opportunities at work etc..

Hope that helps. All the best!

[FLUID]

Hi Gupta,
I think 730 is pretty decent GMAT Score. MBA Application is just not GMAT. I personally know few of my friends who made it to Top Business schools in US like Wharton/Haas/UCLA with 720 to 750 score. I believe you need to concentrate on below aspects to make your application strong.

1. Leadership skills at work and outside
2. Volunteering
3. PreMBA courses to understand all about MBA
4. Good letters of recommendation
5. Good Essay

Good Luck

[Bschool2013]

Your 4.5 is good enough. The AWA is basically a pass/fail portion part of the test. If you're 4.5 and above, that's good enough for the Adcom. 4.0 and below makes them start to wonder who wrote your essays.

In other words, a 6.0 is not going to enhance your candidacy - it just doesn't matter enough.

Congrats on the 730!

[soumensmail]

Congrats!!

A Booth adcom officer once told me in information session that they don't even look at AWA scores if >4 because they know that the electronic essay rater can be tricked.

Now AWA can play a role only if you are tied with someone on all counts including the interview. There is a very minor chance for that.

In fact one of my friends who got a AWA=4(1st attempt) was questioned by AdCom in Yale since he attempted GMAT again after scoring 720. He got 730 and AWA=5.5 in 2nd attempt. They thought there could be more efficient use of time because all scores get reported.
Hope this helps!!